"I'll believe you for now!"
Orochimaru sighed.
Such foolish thoughts, getting entangled in matters of men and women, and family.
He didn't detect any falsehood in the other's words.
But sometimes, to achieve a goal, one doesn't need to lie.
"So, what do you want with me?
You're not planning to surrender and join Konoha, are you?" Satoru teased.
He was genuinely curious what Orochimaru could want from him.
The last time he saw Orochimaru, what was it for? It seemed to be just for information.
He thought of the cooperation Orochimaru had mentioned in the valley.
Could it be that he was interested in his Ninjutsu?
This was possible; Orochimaru could utilize his research to achieve the goal of hand seals.
Orochimaru chuckled, "It was to confirm why you were getting stronger, but I accept your answer. Although your ideology is not commendable, I can still sense it."
"Oh, was it to confirm if I was like the Akatsuki Organization, seeking Tailed Beasts?" Satoru asked.
Orochimaru said, "Since I believe you pose no threat, we can cooperate."
Cooperation was his true objective.
"Cooperate? Do you think we have common ground for cooperation?
I lack nothing now, you know."
"Of course. Since I sought you out, I must have affirmed your abilities.
And your actions align with my criteria for a cooperative partner.
I believe you will agree."
Orochimaru's tone was extremely confident.
This made Satoru stunned.
He reflected on everything he had done since coming to the Ninja World; he truly lacked nothing now.
Where did Orochimaru get such confidence?
Satoru: "Speak then. I'm curious to know what could possibly move me."
"As a high-ranking member of Konoha, you must have heard, haven't you, that Jiraiya, One of the Sannin, has been searching outside for the Child of Prophecy who can bring peace to the world?" Orochimaru said meaningfully.
"I've heard about it, but what does that have to do with you wanting to cooperate with me?" Satoru was greatly puzzled.
How did Jiraiya get dragged into this?
To stay outside for so long, Jiraiya needed a legitimate excuse, and searching for the Child of Prophecy was that excuse.
Of course, he had always been doing just that.
"It's certainly related. This goes back to the Second Great Ninja War.
"Back then, Tsunade, Jiraiya, and I were teammates who fought together on the battlefield.
Jiraiya emphasized more than once that in the future Ninja World, his disciple would become the savior who rescues the world.
"And these prophecies were all foretold by the Great Toad Sage of Mount Myōboku.
If it fails, the entire world will face desolation.
This is something I, who seeks immortality and masters the truths of the world, cannot accept."
Orochimaru spoke very calmly.
Satoru listened quietly: "You believe in so-called prophecies?"
He was somewhat doubtful. No matter what, how could Orochimaru possibly believe in prophecies? It was ridiculous.
This so-called cooperation, he probably just wants to trick me.
The premise is out; next, it must be the main act of Orochimaru, the King of Deception, trying to fool me.
"Of course, I don't believe it, but I cannot ignore the prophecy of the Ninja World's destruction."
Orochimaru smiled, "At that time, I was still a normal Ninja, not a rogue Ninja from Konoha, so I didn't pay much attention.
"It wasn't until the people around me kept dying in war that I became obsessed with immortality and mastering the truth.
At that point, I half-believed it.
So I consulted various ancient texts, folklore, and folk tales circulating in the Ninja World.
Guess what incredible discovery I made."
At this, Orochimaru even built suspense.
However, seeing Satoru's calm demeanor made him feel a bit bored.
He continued, "Since the Six Paths Sage founded Ninshū and returned to the Pure Land, an invisible hand has been rewriting the history of the entire Ninja World.
Even the legends left by the Six Paths Sage are extremely rare.
But I still found clues."
Hearing this, Satoru was shocked.
Although what Orochimaru was saying now seemed unrelated to what would make him cooperate, he was still astonished by Orochimaru's intelligence.
You actually discovered that history was being rewritten?
"What an amazing perspective, but what does it have to do with the bridge of cooperation between you and me?"
"Don't rush, I will make you interested.
Despite history being rewritten, I still found parts of the true history.
And I've made some deductions.
"A thousand years ago, the Great Toad Sage of Mount Myōboku, one of the Three Great Sage Locations, prophesied a world-ending scenario.
He left Mount Myōboku and found the Child of Prophecy who would resist the world's destruction at that time, who was the Six Paths Sage.
He then assisted him in defeating an unknown terrifying enemy, bringing peace to the world."
Satoru's eyes almost popped out.
How come he, a transmigrator, hadn't even shown off yet, but the native was already doing so?
Was this really information that existed in the Ninja World? He had sent out so many clones and established so many intelligence networks outside, yet he didn't have this information.
How did Orochimaru deduce this?
"So, because of this, you believe in the so-called prophecy?" Satoru was still puzzled.
Ninja are suspicious people; they can't just believe something like that.
And why are you telling me so much? You're not trying to recruit me, are you?
What if I don't cooperate? Wouldn't you be making a mockery of the Ninja qualities of the Sannin?
What kind of Ninja reveals information like this? And why do you trust me?
At this moment, a thousand thoughts raced through Satoru's mind.
"Wait, you're not going to say that our goal for cooperation is to prevent the world from being destroyed, are you?"
Satoru suddenly thought of a question.
Orochimaru emphasized this prophecy so much, and his goal was to protect world peace, right?
"That's right. If the world is destroyed, I, you, your family, Konoha, and everyone else will all disappear. What I want is immortality.
And you should be protecting your family, so there's no conflict."
Orochimaru affirmed his statement.
"You're right. If what you say is true, I really should cooperate with you.
But how do you know I'll believe in this so-called prophecy?"
Satoru was shocked by the information Orochimaru revealed.
As expected of an old fox in the Ninja World, even a bit of information he revealed sent shivers down his spine.
And he even grasped his psychology.
Or perhaps he was just testing him, emphasizing his family.
Orochimaru: "The Three Great Sage Locations are forces that maintain the harmony of the world's natural energy. To verify the Great Toad Sage's prophecy,
I once personally went to Ryūchi Cave and directly asked the White Snake Sage for confirmation.
Although the White Snake Sage wasn't interested in that Toad,
She did not refute his prophecy.
Clearly, the White Snake Sage also agreed with the Great Toad Sage's prophecy.
"Of course, none of this is why I believe in the prophecy.
It's better to believe it exists than to believe it doesn't, isn't it?
"Even if my plan fails, it doesn't matter. I still won't die."